The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1887-11-03

! tion of difficulties on the 10Th of December
next, when the annual possession to the shrine
OF Guadalupe takes place. If the present Bit
ter feeling is not allayed. or if an attempt to
stop the procession is made, pitched battle is
| likely to cnsue.
THE CHURCH PARTY
can secure renewed power only rs the Liberals
gained, by violence and revolution. Restoration
of the old clerical regime undoubtedly means
commercial and social retrogression; reprisals
Oh political enemies; forciblc seizure of prop
erty once belonging to the church but now held
act; arming of the divided hosts throughout
the country; war, bloodshed, and a general
overturning of al existing institutions.
The more intelligent Catholics,-thosc whose
religious zeal is not so great as to destroy all
patriotic impulse, or whose personal or pUliti-
cal aggrandizemcnt does not depend on the
restoration of the church party-wi be found
i'll the anti-ccrical ranks. 1t will not be more
Catholic and anti-Catholic contest, than a
contest between Catholics. as to whether the
church shall again absorb and control the
country, or concern itself only with the spirit
u2l affairs Of the people.
Certainly it is IN ncontrOvertible fact that
since the overthrow of the Old church regime
Mexico has advanced more than she had done
i'll a century before; and that, fer the first time
In her history Mexico is beginning to hold up
her head among the nations of the earth Res
toratlon of the clerical party to power would
mean prompt engulfng in total destruction
OF all the great American interests in Mexico,
II not clash of arms between this country
and the Unted States therefore every Amcri-
can here, Whatever may be his religious pro-
c!lvlties. will be found on the ant-church side.
Iii this connection it may be mentioned that
very grave difficulty is apprehende, In the
appointment of a successor to the late Thomas
Courtland Manning, as
UNITED STATES MINISTER TO MEXICO.
1t seems that President Cleveland is bound by
promise to Mr.. Thos. B. Connery, Secretary
OF the American legation in the city of Mexico,
to raise him, (Connery), to the position of
Minister, in the event of Mr.. Mannng's prom
ised resignation. Mr.. Connery is one of the
most hgoted Catholics, carrying his religious
devotion so far that it is said he refused to
speak to his brother for weeks. on account Of
some differences of opinion which arose be-
tween them in discussing the tcncts of their
faith. What diplomatic complications may ell
sue i'll the event of such man being made the
representative of American interests here,
none can forcsee. The Church party being at
present actively engaged in fermcnting "A strong
sentiment against President Diaz, it is doubt
fu if his administration would welcome very
cordially Minister whose religious bias is so
strongly on the side of the opposition. Now
that the Liberal party has determined that
olaz shall be his own successor, though the
Constitution must be changed to allow it j; and
the Church faction rs well rs great number
of anti-t tathoIics, are equally determined that
he shall hot he rc-cccted--a complication is
presented, by no means encouraging to 4 dip
lomat who is not committed to ono side or the
other as is Mr.. Connery.
Judge Manning was greatly respected here
for his dgnifiea and vigilant course, and his in
ilnence with the Mexican government has rare
ly been exceeded. He was man who would
have attracted attention in any crowd. or at
any court Over six feet in height and admir-
ably proportional, witha clean-shaven, power
ful face and well-baanced head, he looked the
born orator, advocate and diplomat. Highly
educated and exceptionally intelligent. he was
both honest and ambitious, and added to these
attractions a fauItleS> social demeanor--a re-
lncment Of courtesy tinetured with warnest
tordiaity, lie heritage of his Southern anc;,s-
try Though so short a time in Mexico. lie
ha'l thoroughly mastered the Spanish language,
and the United States never had Il more worthy
or efficient representative. AT the time of his
death he had lust passed his siXtieth year. He
had 40 sons to perpctuatc his name, hut leaves
IL wife and three married daughters.
FANNIE b. WARD